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July 18, 2010

G92: Rangers 4, Red Sox 2

Wilson (6.2-3-1-5-10, 113) kept a tight lid on the offense -- the Red Sox got one runner past second base in the first eight innings -- and Lester (8-9-4-3-6, 118) was not as sharp as usual.

The Sox took a lead on Kevin Youkilis's single and Adrian Beltre's double, but Texas scored twice after two were out in the fourth (an error by Beltre brought the second run home) and pulled off a double steal to grab a run in the fifth.

Mike Cameron homered to start the ninth and Bill Hall reached on an error, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. But Kevin Cash and J.D. Drew struck out swinging and Marco Scutaro lined out to short.

The Yankees beat the Rays 9-5, so Tampa Bay is back to 3 GB and Boston is 6.5 GB.

1882 - Louisville's Tony Mullane ("The Apollo of the Box") is the first major leaguer to pitch both left- and right-handed in the same game. (He was mostly a right-hander.)

1916 - With the Cubs and Dodgers tied 4-4 in the 10th, umpire Bill Byron forfeits the game to Brooklyn when Chicago pitcher Hippo Vaughn protests alleged sign stealing by baserunners and refuses to pitch.

1975 - Jim Rice hits a home run over the centerfield wall at Fenway Park, to the right of the flag pole. Owner Tom Yawkey calls it the longest dong he's ever seen at Fenway*. It's the 6th time a homer has been hit to the right of the pole: Detroit's Hank Greenberg, on May 22, 1937; Boston's Jimmie Foxx, on August 12, 1937; Yankee Bill Skowron, on April 20, 1957; Boston's Carl Yastrzemski, on May 16, 1970; and Brewer Bob Mitchell, on September 29, 1973.

Anyone listening to the radio broadcast? They are talking about Castig's former interns, which include many now-famous people, including Don Orsillo. OB: "I know you don't want to single anyone out at the expense of the others. But you always said Don was the best eater."

Just got back from the beach, ate lunch, kids (son, nieces, nephews) are all out. I'm by myself!!! I found some decent internet service and am listening to the game on the computer and watching the MFY on mute.

Not that anyone asked me, but I'm not pulling for the Yanks so we have a better shot at the WC. I'm pulling for the Rays because I want us to win the AL East! (Of course that whole "it's the Yankees" thing comes into play a bit as well)

batter struck out, andrus took off for second and as soon as he saw brown throw, he slowed up. borbon took off for home once brown threw. scutaro took the throw and fired home, but it was late (and maybe in the dirt). safe -- and andrus went into second.

we got three catchers.. nobody even blocking the plate?.. both plays could have been changed with just sticking a foot or leg in the direct route. Not only that they were skinny runners.. give up the bod for the out. I almost wanted to have contact when I was catching..

Hurrah, another game that our moronic manager gifts to the other team. Until a single synapse fires in his vacant head and he realized that Kevin Cash should not ever start in the first place and when he does he should be replaced in every instance of importance, and that Darnell McDonald and Eric Patterson are not top-half-of-the-order hitters, he is a drag on this team. All that "Tito's best year" shite is false--this team has scored runs in spite of him, not because of.

Patterson and Shealy were the only guys on the bench. So send one of those guys up for Cash ... who catches if the game goes to the 10th? (Same deal if you hit Shealy in the 7th and maybe Drew in the 9th. Who catches?)

I guess Hall could catch and Patterson goes to 2B, but this is not WS Game 7, so ...

In hindsight, yes I would rather have Brown in the 7th than Cash in the 9th. Without that, I can see how the choice is a difficult one. But my rant, though inspired by the game, is more directed at Tito's management in general this past month and a half or so. And while Cash didn't start, he shouldn't be on the team. Even minor leaguers like Exsposito can be quite reasonably expected to outperform him.

(Considering the restraints of the roster, the in-game and long-term implications of his decisions, and looking at him in the context of both the other 29 MLB managers and previous Red Sox managers, I would be curious to hear your "Francona is a Moron" argument, if you are serious.)

Moronic manager? How is any of this Tito's fault? Apart from quibbles here and there, since it's safe to assume you'll have quibbles with any manager.

But my rant, though inspired by the game, is more directed at Tito's management in general this past month and a half or so. And while Cash didn't start, he shouldn't be on the team.

Surely you can't blame that on Francona.

I'd be very curious to hear your arguments, too. I don't know if you blog, but if you do, maybe you'll direct us to the post. Your vehement belief that this is mostly Francona's fault makes me wonder what I've been missing!

I don't know how much you believe in MLEs (Minor league equivalencies), but they indicate that several of our minor league catchers would be far better than Cash. Now, I know that Tito is not in charge of the decision of who goes up and down, but he does have input. He continues to start inferior players in high spots in the order while better players are at the bottom of the order. For instance, Scutaro, who is always near the top of the lineup, has the same OBP as Cameron and a lower OBP than Drew, with lower power than both of them and worse speed than Cameron. I've also said this before, but the continual presence of Patterson/McDonald in the two-spot is infuriating. Tito's also used Okajima against more righties than lefties. Bard has pitched in more medium-leverage instances (per Fangraphs) than high-leverage, and he's been used just as much against lefties (against whom he has a history of struggles, and though the ERA doesn't show it this season, his K:BB is 13:8 vs. lefties compared to 32:5 against righties).

Obviously, every manager makes mistakes. My rant there was a lot of fan-frustration coming out in the heat of the moment. But there has definitely been manager stupidity this season, and I stand by my statement that the idea that Tito's management has been the reason for this rag-tag team's run scoring.

I don't know how much you believe in MLEs (Minor league equivalencies), but they indicate that several of our minor league catchers would be far better than Cash.

I don't follow the minors as much as I'd like, so I can't say how ready Exposito is. But I am skeptical that he's ready to jump from AA to be the starting catcher for the Red Sox, at least until Victor comes back.

Everyone knows Cash sucks and I see no reason why they would waste time with Cash (or Molina) if they thought one of their own kids could handle the job. There is also the issue of starting the aribtration clock.

He continues to start inferior players in high spots in the order while better players are at the bottom of the order.

This bothers me, too. But Tito has built up a shitload of goodwill and I will cut him a lot of slack and assume there's a lot we don't know -- about where guys feel good hitting, how he wants to space out the lineup, how batting order is not all that important (however much it can frustrate the hell out of me sometimes) ...

Philip said... For instance, Scutaro, who is always near the top of the lineup, has the same OBP as Cameron and a lower OBP than Drew, with lower power than both of them and worse speed than Cameron.

Not near the top, he leads off......Scutaro is actually a point higher than Cameron in OBP.

Cameron hasn't run all year and with his injury most likely won't.

I beleive , with the lineup he is just waiting out the DL.

Relax, just when people start to doubt Tito, he manages to fool us all, he knows his team better than some stat may tell you, have a little faith in Tito, he did after all win 2 World Series. ( I actually believe he had something to do with that)

He continues to start inferior players in high spots in the order while better players are at the bottom of the order.

I find this overemphasis on batting lineup a bit mystifying. I've heard the arguments - after all, I live with Allan - but IMO it's silly to think tweaking the batting order would make that much of a difference in games won and lost.

Re Cash, I also don't follow the minor leagues, but I do know that highly touted prospects routinely come up to the majors and fail. If there was any alternative to Kevin Cash, wouldn't Theo want him, pronto?

Also, we don't know how much input Francona has in these decision, but I imagine it's not very much. Since the Sox try to make decisions based on rational, measurable factors - as opposed to fan-pleasing but worthless moves - I don't think Francona could be reasonably expected to have much input. That's my conjecture, anyway.